Forging press



Aug. 10, 1943. F.-c. BIGGERT, JR

FORGING PRES S Filed June 25, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Z 714/ pATTORNEY WITNEJSEJ.

W Aid/M 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 F. c. BIGGERT, JR

FORGING PRESS Filed June 25, 1942 Aug. 10, 1943.

INVENTOR.

,qrromvzv WITNESSES. WWW- 1943- F. c. BIGGERT, JR 2,326,606

FORGING PRES 5 Filed June 25, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 H UNLOADING WATER0N.

FoRama CHANGING WATER on: 1 WATER l ON.

J L LOADING 56 WATER err.

Y 78 13 77 86 a. f J9 60" o o 2s 98 36 4 1oo 1'9 1 71 I -95 102INVENTOR. 74 677M BY Z E fig/"M52253. Ufa W ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 10,,194"? Florence o. Biggert, an, Pittsburgh, Pa, assignor toUnitedEngineering 85 Foundry Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania 1 Application June 25,1942, Serial No.fi i8,445

(o1; v e-=10) 12 Claims.

This invention relates to forging presses, and more particularly topresses for forging .hollow bodies such as projectile shells;

It is among the objects of this inventionto pro vide a forging presswhich is rapid in operation,

which is relatively simplein, construction,- which is highly eflicient,and which can be quickly and easily altered for forging different typesof blanks;

In accordance 'lvithlthis invention, a vertically movable holder for abillet is provided with' a central vertical opening and normally is'heldin A vertical punch is mounted elevated position. below the billetholder with itsupper end projecting into the opening therethrough; Avertically reciproca'ble pot die is carried by means by which it can bemoved down around a billet onthe' holder .to forge it into a blankaround th stationary punch while pushing the holderdown;

Nhen the die is raised the billet holder is elevated by meansindependent of the die to strip the forged blank from the punch. The dielikewise may be provided with means for automatically ejecting the blanktherefrom'. There preferably are a plurality of punches andbillet'holders all carried by a rotatable turret that is indexed fromstation to station atone of which the die is located. After the turretis indexed to, remove a blank from the forging station the punch iscooled by cooling liquid automatically applied to it. The punchespreferably are slidable vertically in the turret so that they canberemoved-when desired by lowering them through the-turret.

For this reason they are supported at one station by a plate'normallyflush with the top of the tur-- rot support, but the plate restson"ver'tically're ciprocable means which can be lowered to lower a punchresting on theplate. The plate deposits a lowered punch on a carriage'whichran be moved laterally to position another punch over the platethat is then raised to elevate the second punch into working position inthe turret. f

The preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which Fig. l is'a plan view of my forging presswith'the billet centering jaws removed;- Fig. 2 is a vertical sectiontaken on the line IIrH of Fig; l: 3, is a fragmentary vertical'sectio'nat 90 to the section of Fi .2; Fig. 4 is aplan view ofbillet-centeringjaws; Figs. 5 and 6' are enlarged horizontal sections: taken on thelines V V and II-VI, respectively, of Fig, 2; Fig. 7 is aside view ofthe punch-changing apparatusbelow the turret; Fig. 8 is an enlargedfragmentary vertical:

section taken on the line VIII l/:III"of Fig. 1; .9 is ahorizontal-sectiontaken on the-line IXIX of Fig; 2; and Fig. 10 is,aa'aga naa vertical section similar to Fig. 2' but showing the press inthe position its elements occupyt atthe l conclusion of a forging strokeof the die,randf showing a punch lowered from the turret. V Referring'toFigs." 1, 2; and 6 of the drawings;.- 9

'a-base member I is mounted 'ona suitable-foundation and is providedwith a Verticalopening 2 in which the lower-end of a center pcstd is rigidly mounted. Mountedon the b'asememberat 1 one side of the post is acasting '4to the opposite sides of which the adjacent ends ofa'curvedplate 1 5 are'ccnnected. This plate is supportedwithits-a uppersurface horizontal and flush with the top=.--

of the casting. Tl' 1e plate andcasting form a'cir-- cular' table thatsupports a turret 6 slidablyr I mounted thereon for rotation around thepost.1"= g 7 The turret-i provided with a,plurality;-'iprefer-' G ablyfour, vertical openings equally spacedaroun'd,

it. Slidablymounted in eachoftheseope'nings is a metalpun'ch 9 thatprojects upwardly from'the" turret with'itsheaded lowerend resting on ag V metal bearing block lt'slid'ably mounted in the-f lower end of theturret'opening', as shown in Fig;

2. These blocks slide on' the" tablei'wheh the turrot is turned and theynormally hold the rigidly in'place the turret.

1 The upper end of each punch projects u into a' 'verticalppening' 12through a billet-holding member l3 supported on the upper endsof threevertical rods Mthat are slidabl'e in vertical open-- ingsin the turret.As shown in Fig. 8,the lower a ends of these rods normally are spaced-ashort distanceabove the turret table by latches l t hav ing inclinedupper cam surfaces 18 that; engage corresponding inclined surfacesat theupper ends of'n'ot'ches lexformed-in the sides of the rods; Eachlatch'is slidable'horizontally in a cylinderi 1 2c on'the turret and ispressedinto the notch in V the adjoining rodby means of: a compressionspring 2 I encircling the latch. The, movement of the latch into thenotch causes the engaging cam surfaces to lift the rod slight1 Q Thecenter'of the turrethas aydownwardly ex -f tending post-encirclinghub 22on which a' ring 23gis keyed, as shown in Fig. 6. Encircling this ringand oscillatable thereon is another ring 24 provided with a radialrecess in which a dog 25 J is mounted on-a pin 26 journaled in theopposite walls of therecess. This dog normally projects into one of thenotches 21 with which the inner ring is provided and is heldthere by aspring 28 connected to the dog and the dog ring. "I-o ose' cillate-"thedogring. in order toindex the turret thedo .pin zt ispivotally connectedto a 'link30 punches that is pivoted at its opposite end in a block 3|.This block is reciprocated at a tangent to the rings in a guide member32 by means of a piston rod 33 projecting from a hydraulic cylinder 34.As soon as the piston rod starts to move, the dog starts moving in acurved path away from the straight path of travel of slide block 3|.time the block reaches the end'of its stroke the dog is moving nearly atright angles to the path of the block. Consequently, the movement of thedog around center post 3 slows down as it ap proaches the end of itsforward stroke and thus the turret is automatically retarded toward theend of each indexing'step without the use of special retardingequipment. 1

. When the turret carries four punches the inner ring 23 is providedwith four notches 21, thus causing each punch to be indexed to four suc-I and contains a hardened steel block 36 on which the punch-supportingblock rests. The other 3 four stations are for loading, unloading andpunch-changing as will be explained later.

By the -To hold the turret motionless while' operations are'beingperform'e'dat the variousstations it is. provided with four peripheralrecesses 31" adapted to receive a stopmember 38 that temporarily locksthe turret against rotation. The drawings show the stop member mountedon the I outer. end of a piston rod 39 reciprocable radially of theturret bya hydraulic cylinder 40 connected to base member I. At the endof each indexing step-the stop member is projected into theoppositeturret recess 3'! andis retracted therefrom just before dogstarts to index the turret to the next station.

Spaced from center-post 3 on the opposite side of casting 4iare two morelaterally spaced posts- 46 and '4'l mounted in fixed position. 'Rigidly'mounted on the upper. ends of all three posts is a" piston 49 the lowerend of which projects'from the bottom of the cylinder. To force thepiston down, fluid pressure is supplied to the top of the The piston isl 1 cylinder through a conduit 5 I. raised by fluid pressure supplied tothe lower portion of the cylinder through a lateral conduit 52 andacting upon a collar 53 and packing member 54 encircling the upper endof the piston;

V The projecting lower end of the piston carries a head 56 the sides ofwhich are provided with threesh0es 5l for slidably engaging the flatsurfaces of the three posts facing the block, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5.These shoesthus guide thehead in a. straight line when the piston ismoved upand down. 1 Rigidly connected to the'bottom of the head isa diehousing 58 provided with an The jaws are hinged at one end to a bracket61 projecting from the holder and are urged toward each other by springs68 at their outer ends. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the jaws are shapedto form a funnel-like member that facilitates centering of the billet onthe support. They also have upwardly and outwardly flaring wing portions69 for a purpose about to be disclosed.

After a billet, has been deposited on a billet holder, the turret isindexed to bring the billet directly under the die at the forgingstation. Fluidpressure is then admitted to the top of forging cylinder48 and the die is thus moved down over thebillet. The downwardly movingdie housing 58 engages the wings on jaws 65 to spread the jaws apart andout of the way of the die. After the die has completely surrounded thebillet the die housing engages the top of the underlying billet holder,and the downward pressure is suiiicient to force latches [6 back out ofthe notches'l 9 in the adjoining rods M. I

This downward movement of the billet holder nd its supporting rods ispermitted because casting 4 below the punch is provided with threevertical'openings-for slidably receiving the rods. Slidably mounted inthese openings and aligned openings in base member I are rods 1| thatare biased upwardly by a cylinder 12 slidable on a stationary verticalpiston 13 through which fluid under pressure is constantly supplied toth cylinder from a conduit 14. The force of the downwardly moving dieovercomes'this pressure and moves the billet holder downwardly againstit until the die finally comes to rest in the position shown in Fig. 10where it will be seen that the billet has been pierced by the punch andshaped by the die into a hollow blank. The die is then upwardlyextendingrecessin which apot die 59.

is.'mounted. The die shown is one designed for forging 'shells forprojectiles, but other dies may be 'used' for forging other products.'The ,die

housing is'provided with recesses encircling the die andconnected byhorizontal passages to '(not shown) by which the die flexible hoses 6|that are connected to a water reversed, and the release of pressure uponthe billet holder. permits cylinder 12 to rise and force thebilletholder upwardly to. strip the blank from the punch. As soon as notchesl9 in-rods l4 reach latches IS the latter are snapped into the notchesby springs 2!, thus causing the engaging cam surfaces to lift rods I4above the lower rodsll and theturret table.

V In order to strip or eject the forged blankfrom the die 59 the top ofthe die is. provided with a vertical opening that extends up through thedie-housing and into a transverse recess 16 extending across the bottomof head 56.

Loosely mounted 'in the vertical opening i a but permitit to moveVertically within predeter mined limits; The ejector normally hangs downinto the die as shown in'Figs. 2 and 3,7but when the die' is loweredaround the billet the latter pushes theejector up as'shown in Fig. 10;In this position the ejector projects up into recess 16 where itsupports a crossbar 19 slidable vertically on guiderods 83, shown inFig. 3. When the die is elevated after forging a billet, the projectingends of the cross bar strike the lower ends of stop rods 8l' dependingfrom the lower end of cylinder 48. These rods stop the cross bar so thatfurther upward travel of the die causes the bar to be pushed down inrecess 15,

as shown in Fig. 3. V The. bar therefore pushes the ejector down intothe die and strips the forged blank from'it. The blankdrops down lower apunch" on the plate down through the;-

turret. V H

5. 'A' forging press comprising a support-Q a turret rotatable thereon,a plurality of laterally spaced'punc'hes carried by the turret andslidable on said support, means for indexing the turret tomove thepunches from station to station, a vertically reciprocable pot die abovethe turret at one of-said stations, means for moving the die down aroundeach successive punch atsaid one station,said support being providedwith a verticalopening at another station, a plate normally'disposed insaid opening for Supporting each punchwhen it arrives atthatstation,uvertically reciprocable means supporting said plate and adaptedto be lowered to lower a punch on the plate down through the turretand'said openingand means for moving the "punch laterally off said plateand for positioning another punch over said plate whereby it can beelevated into operative position in the turret. e i

6. A forging press comprising a rotatable .tur-

ret, a plurality of laterally spaced punches-pro-' jecting upwardlytherefrom, a plurality of vertically-movable billet holders eachprovided with a central vertical opening receiving the upper end of oneof the punches, means for indexing the turret to carry the punches andbillet holders from station to station, a vertically reciprocable potdie above the turret atone of saidstations, means below the turret atsaid one station adapted to bias the billet holder at that stationupwardly, and means for forcing the die down around the-underlyingbillet to forge it into a blank around the punch below it while pushingthe adjoining holder down, said biasing means downwardmovement of thoserods, and means jecting upwardly therefrom, a plurality of yer-- ticallymovable billet holders each provided with a central vertical openingreceiving the upper end of one of the punches, means for indexing theturret to carry the punches and billet holders from station to station,a vertically'reciprocable pot die above the turret at oen of saidstations, means below the turret at said one station adapted to bias thebillet holder at that station upwardly, means forforcing the die downaround the underlying billet to forge it into a blank around the punchbelow it while pushing the adjoi'ning holderdown, said biasing meansforcing said holder upwardly againtostrip the blank from the punchas-the die is elevated, and means for introducing cooling liquid intothe punch-re- -ceiving opening preach successive billet holder after itleaves said' o'ne'station.

forcing said holder upwardly again to strip the blank from the punch asthe die is elevated.

'7. A forging'press comprisinga rotatable turret, a plurality oflaterally'spaced punches projecting upwardly-therefrom, a pluralityof'"ver tically movable billet holders each provided with a centralvertical opening receiving the upper end of one'of the punches, meansfor indexing the turret to carry the'punches and billet holders fromstation to station, a vertically reciprocable pot die above the-turretat one of said stations, a plurality of vertical rods supporting each ofsaid holders and slidable vertically through the turret, means normallyholding said rods in their upper position, upwardly biased meansdirectly below said rods at said one station 'forresistingdownwar'd'movement of those rods, and means for forcing the die dOWnaround the underlying billet to forge it into a blank around the punchbelow it while pushing'the adjoining holder down against the resistanceof said upwardly biased means which forces said rods and holder upwardlyagain to stripthe blank from'the punch as the'die is elevated.

' 8. A forging press comprising a rotatable turmet, a plurality oflaterally spaced punches projec'ting upwardly therefrom, a plurality ofvertically movable billet holders'each provided with a central verticalopening receiving the upper end of one of the punches, means forindexing the turret to carry the punches and billet'holders,

from station to station, a vertically reciprocable pot die above theturret at one of said stations, 'a plurality of vertical rods supportingeach'of said holders and slidable' vertically through the turret,spring-pressed cams normally holding the lower ends-of'said rods abovethe lower surface 10. A forging press comprising a rotatable turret, aplurality of laterally spaced punches projecting upwardly therefrom, aplurality of vertically movable billet holders each provided with-a-central vertical opening receiving the upper end of one of thepunches, means for indexing i the turret to carry the punches andbilletholders from station to station, a; vertically reciprocable notdie above the turret at oneof said stations, means below the turret at asaid one station adapted to'bias the billetholder atthat stationupwardly, means for forcing the die down around the underlying billet toforge it into a blank around the punch below it while pushing theadjoining holder down, said biasing means forcing said holder upwardlyagain to strip the blank from the punch as the die is elevated, astationary center post for the turret provided with an axial passageterminating in aradial passage, means for supplying a cooling liquid tothe axial pas-' sage, a jacket encircling the post and rotatable withtheturret, said jacket being divided into a plurality of'separatechambers each adapted to communicate in succession with said radialpassage, and a conduit connectingthe punch-receiving opening of eachbillet holder with a different one of said chambers.

11. A forging press comprising a vertically movable holder for'a billet;means biasing the holder upwardly, saidholder being provided with acentral vertical opening a vertical punch mounted below said'holder withits upper end projecting into said opening, a pot die above said holderreciprocable vertically independently thereof, pivoted billet-engagingmembers for centering a billet on said holder and provided with portionsadapted to be engaged by said die tomove said members away from eachother, and means for forcing the die down around the billet toseparatesaid members and forge the billet into a blank around the punchwhilepushing said holder down, said biasing.v means forcing the holderupwardlyagain tostrip the blank from the punchwhen the" die is elevated.1

12. A forging press comprising a rotatable turret, a plurality oflaterally spaced punches proecting upwardly therefrom, a plurality ofverturret at one of said stations, means for forcing the die down aroundanunderlying billet to forge it into a blank around the punch below itwhile pushing the adjoining holder down, and means below the turret forforcing said holder upwardly again to strip the blank from the punchwhenthe die is elevated. I

FLORENCE C. BIGGERT, JR.

